CVE-2012-1186 in ImageMagick
Summary
by MITRE
Integer overflow in the SyncImageProfiles function in profile.c in ImageMagick 6.7.5-8 and earlier allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (infinite loop) via crafted IOP tag offsets in the IFD in an image. NOTE: this vulnerability exists because of an incomplete fix for CVE-2012-0248.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/03/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2012-1186 represents a critical integer overflow condition within ImageMagick's image processing library that can be exploited to create denial of service scenarios. This flaw specifically affects versions 6.7.5-8 and earlier of the widely-used image manipulation software, which is deployed across numerous web applications, content management systems, and digital asset management platforms. The vulnerability manifests in the SyncImageProfiles function located within the profile.c source file, where improper handling of IOP tag offsets within the Image File Directory structure creates conditions that can lead to unpredictable system behavior.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from an integer overflow that occurs when processing image metadata, particularly within the IFD (Image File Directory) structure of image files. When an attacker crafts malicious image files containing malformed IOP tag offsets, the SyncImageProfiles function fails to properly validate the integer values used for processing these offsets. This failure results in an infinite loop condition that consumes system resources and effectively renders the application unavailable to legitimate users. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it operates at the core of image processing functionality, making it accessible through any application that utilizes ImageMagick for image handling operations.
The operational impact of CVE-2012-1186 extends beyond simple service disruption to encompass broader security implications within web environments. Attackers can exploit this vulnerability by uploading or processing specially crafted image files that trigger the integer overflow condition, causing the target system to enter an infinite loop state. This creates a reliable denial of service scenario that can be executed remotely without requiring authentication or special privileges. Systems that rely on ImageMagick for image processing, including web applications, content management systems, and digital asset management platforms, become vulnerable to this attack vector, potentially leading to widespread service unavailability.
This vulnerability represents an incomplete remediation of a previously identified issue, specifically CVE-2012-0248, which demonstrates the complexity of addressing integer overflow conditions in image processing libraries. The flaw aligns with CWE-190, which categorizes integer overflow and underflow conditions, and manifests through the ATT&CK technique T1499.1, specifically targeting the availability of services through resource exhaustion. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including updating to ImageMagick version 6.7.5-9 or later, which contains the proper fix for this vulnerability. Additionally, input validation measures should be strengthened to reject malformed image files before they reach the image processing engine, and network-level protections such as file type validation and size limits should be implemented to prevent exploitation attempts.
The remediation strategy for CVE-2012-1186 requires comprehensive system hardening across all applications that utilize ImageMagick. Organizations must prioritize updating their ImageMagick installations to versions that properly address the integer overflow condition in the SyncImageProfiles function. Beyond patching, security teams should implement robust input validation mechanisms that can detect and filter out malformed image files before they are processed, particularly in web-facing applications where user-uploaded content is common. Network security controls should include file type validation, size restrictions, and content scanning to prevent exploitation attempts. The vulnerability's classification under CWE-190 and its operational impact through ATT&CK techniques emphasize the need for layered security approaches that address both the immediate vulnerability and broader application security posture to prevent similar issues from arising in the future.